Jailed Radio Station Owner Launches Appeal

Mam Sonando, the independent radio station owner whose jailing for 20 years earlier this month provoked international condemnation of the country’s courts, has launched an appeal, his wife and a prison official said yesterday. Mr. Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio, was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of stoking an alleged secessionist movement in Kratie province. … Sem Sophat, a clerk at the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh who handles criminal cases, said yesterday that he was now aware of an appeal lodged by Mr. Sonando.